The historically active 2020 hurricane season continues this week as Zeta impacts portions of the northern Gulf coast.

With so much activity this year, it begs the question, can Florida be hit in the month of November?

What You Need To Know

  • Florida has been impacted by tropical systems in November

  • The annual risk of systems in the month is low

  • Hurricane season ends on November 30

Unfortunately, the Sunshine State has been impacted by multiple tropical cyclones in November during the last 100 years.

Eight systems have made landfall in the state during the month.

Two of the cyclones were hurricanes. In 1935, the "Yankee Hurricane" made landfall near Miami. Hurricane Kate hit the Florida Panhandle in 1985.

Kate is the strongest system to impact the state in November. It is also the latest a hurricane has hit the continental U.S., arriving on November 21.

The hurricane slammed ashore near Mexico Beach as a Category 2 storm, with winds of 100 mph.

Kate produced extensive damage. Over 300 homes were destroyed, and tens of thousands were without power in the Panhandle.

The storm also produced damage in the Lower Keys as it moved northward from Cuba.

The most recent November storm was Tropical Storm Mitch in 1998, making landfall in Naples. Mitch produced flooding rains and strong winds across parts of South Florida and the Keys.

So, what is the likelihood the state will be impacted on the last month of hurricane season? Not that great.

The majority of hurricanes in Florida arrive in the months of September and October, and no major hurricane has ever hit the United States in November.

Part of the reason is because November is the start of dry season in Florida. Cold fronts can now move into and through the state, reducing the moisture available for tropical cyclones.

Cold fronts and jet streams also help to steer tropical storms and hurricanes away from the area.

So while hurricane season rolls on to November 30, the likelihood of a strike is low for Florida in the final month.